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Friday, December 17, 2004

DANNIS PRAGER HEARTS CHRISTMAS (DECORATIONS)

Dennis Prager, writing at Town Hall, offers the facinating suggestion that "Those who [recognize an imaginary God, and] put up [Christmas] decorations make society better." How do they make society better? Well, um, by showing everybody that we like Christmas and that we really like Jesus. As Prager says, it's like giving your wife a birthday present, or flying the flag:

Ask your wife if she would feel equally loved and appreciated if you never gave her a card or gift on her birthday, your wedding anniversary or Mother's Day. After all, if you really believe that feelings need not be manifested in any formal, ritualistic way, why bother with a card or gift on her birthday? Presumably you love her just as much on that day as any other, so why engage in card waving?

Do I have this straight? If you don't put up Christmas decorations, Jesus won't know that you love him, and it will hurt his feelings, which hurts society. Even if you're Jewish (like Dennis says he is) and have believed for 2000 years that society has no use for Jesus?

One wonders if Dennis does his duty for society by putting up Christmas decorations, you know, to trick Jesus into thinking the Prager family loves him. That Jesus. He's so gullible.

If it relates to Jews, Judaism, holidays, Midrash,Torah, halacha or anything similar, I probably have a post on it. And if I have a post on it, I probably have a good comment thread with great reader-provided information, too.

Try a search and see for yourself. If you can't find what you're looking for ask me.

Quotes

רֹאשׁ דְּבָרְךָ אֱמֶת קוֹרֵא מֵרֹאשׁ דּוֹר וָדוֹר עַם דּוֹרֶשְׁךָ דְּרֹשׁ
Your chief word is "truth"; You've called it out since the beginning. In each generation people interpret You [for themselves] and find [their own] meaning.

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you odd. -Flannery O'Connor

“When in the afterglow of religious insight I can see a way that is good for all humans as it is for me—I will know it is His way.” - R. Abraham Joshua Heschel

I don't accept at all the quite popular argument that the press is responsible for the monarchy's recent troubles. The monarchy's responsible for the monarchy's recent troubles. To blame the press is the old thing of blaming the messenger for the message. -Anthony Holden

Said behind my back

"...he's trying to show that there are other facets to Orthodox Judaism. That we don't all think one way and vote one way. And he's occasionally entertaining when he's not being mean-spirited" [PsychoToddler]"

"He's witty. He's funny. He appreciates the ridiculous in life, and has no qualms about telling you when he thinks that you're being a moron" [Cara]

" I'm pretty sure [DovBear] is a really great guy who just wants to be able to ask questions and talk about things without the fear of someone claiming he's off the derech or on his way there." [Chaviva]